VOICE OF THE PEOPLE (letter)

New laws

January 17, 2006|By Dan McGuire

Bensenville — The Tribune asked for reader suggestions on how to revive and improve the ill-fated "Contract with America," initiated by Newt Gingrich in 1994. Of the letters printed in the Jan. 8 Perspective section, the best was also the shortest. Michigan writer D. Kolinger proposed that every new bill making its way through Congress cover only one subject. The ability to tack countless riders (usually loaded with pork) onto any bill makes a mockery of the legislative process. Presidents must sometimes veto bills whose main intent they favor because of the heavy and unwarranted cost of such riders. More often, they grit their teeth and sign because the original intent of the bill is something they favor.

Restricting bills to one subject would require changes in Senate and House rules. Self-seeking career lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are not going to let that happen.

Americans who haven't yet completely given up on our legislative system should pressure their representatives to empower future presidents with a line-item veto.